Apple and Google settle patent dispute

Apple and Google have settled a long running patent battle and said that they will now work together on some areas of patent reform.

The lawsuits date back to October 2010, and cover mobile technology patents used in Apple’s iPhone and Google-backed Android phones made by Motorola Mobility, now a Google subsidiary that is being sold to Lenovo.

Apple and Google jointly informed a federal appeals court that the cases should be dismissed.

However, while they have agreed to drop their lawsuits, they have not actually licensed the patents to each other yet, leading to the possibility of future action if they cannot agree on licensing terms.

The dismissal notice does allow for future lawsuits to be submitted on these patents.

Apple is still suing Samsung for infringing the same patents.